These are the top public high schools in Connecticut, according to Niche
CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — Westport School District's Staples High School was determined the best public high school in the state for 2025, according to an annual analysis from Niche.
It's not the first time the school as earned this title from Niche. They've ranked No. 1 at least three times in recent years.
2024: 3 Connecticut schools make Blue Ribbon list
Niche used demographic and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education, combined with surveys from millions of students and parents, to make its ranking.
They said the criteria with the most weight was academics, which they graded based on state assessment proficiency, college enrollment data, and survey responses on academics from students and parents.
Other factors included culture and diversity, teachers, parent and student surveys on experience, clubs and activities, resources and facilities, and sports.
Most of the top 25 'best' schools are found in Fairfield County. The full list can be found below.
These Connecticut towns named most laid-back beach towns in the Northeast
Meanwhile, Manchester High School was named the most diverse school.
That ranking was determined by the schools' student racial diversity index, parent and student surveys on culture and diversity, the percent of economically disadvantaged, and gender diversity.
The top 10 most diverse schools can be found listed below, along with a list of schools with the best teachers, which Niche determined using reviews from students and parents, plus academic and teacher data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Best schools:
Staples High School in WestportOverall Niche Grade: A+
New Canaan High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A+
Darien High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A+
Greenwich High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A+
Wilton High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A+
Ridgefield High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A+
Center for Global StudiesOverall Niche Grade: A+
Avon High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A+
Farmington High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A+
Glastonbury High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A+
Fairfield Warde High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A+
Connecticut International Baccalaureate Academy in East HartfordOverall Niche Grade: A+
Weston High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A+
Marine Science Magnet High School of Southeastern Connecticut in LearnOverall Niche Grade: A
Conard High School in West HartfordOverall Niche Grade: A
Daniel Hand High School in MadisonOverall Niche Grade: A
Hall High School in West HartfordOverall Niche Grade: A
Simsbury High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A
Cheshire High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A
Guilford High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A
East Lyme High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A
Masuk High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A
South Windsor High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A
Trumbull High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A
Fairfield Ludlowe High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A
Most diverse:
Manchester High School
Hamden High School
Stratford High School
Stamford High School
Connecticut International Buccalaureate Academy in East Hartford
Connecticut River Academy at Goodwin University in East Hartford
Global Experience Magnet School
West Haven High School
Robert E. Fitch High School in Groton
Derby High School
Best teachers:
Staples High School in Westport
Farmington High School
New Canaan High School
Greenwich High School
E.O. Smith High School
Center for Global Studies in Norwalk
Wilton High School
Avon High School
Fairfield Warde High School
Shepaug Valley School
More information on the rankings can be found on Niche's website.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Columbia failed to meet accreditation standards, US government says
By Jasper Ward WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Department of Education said on Wednesday it has notified a university accreditation body that Columbia University had violated federal anti-discrimination laws by its alleged failure to protect Jewish students on its campus. The violation means that Columbia has not met the standards of accreditation set by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the department said. "Accreditors have an enormous public responsibility as gatekeepers of federal student aid. They determine which institutions are eligible for federal student loans and Pell Grants," U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement. The university did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Columbia has been the epicenter of a pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel student protest movement that roiled U.S. campuses over the last year and a half as Israel's war in Gaza raged. The Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services said last month that an investigation found that the university had acted with "deliberate indifference" towards the harassment of Jewish students during campus protests.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
These are the top public high schools in Connecticut, according to Niche
CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — Westport School District's Staples High School was determined the best public high school in the state for 2025, according to an annual analysis from Niche. It's not the first time the school as earned this title from Niche. They've ranked No. 1 at least three times in recent years. 2024: 3 Connecticut schools make Blue Ribbon list Niche used demographic and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education, combined with surveys from millions of students and parents, to make its ranking. They said the criteria with the most weight was academics, which they graded based on state assessment proficiency, college enrollment data, and survey responses on academics from students and parents. Other factors included culture and diversity, teachers, parent and student surveys on experience, clubs and activities, resources and facilities, and sports. Most of the top 25 'best' schools are found in Fairfield County. The full list can be found below. These Connecticut towns named most laid-back beach towns in the Northeast Meanwhile, Manchester High School was named the most diverse school. That ranking was determined by the schools' student racial diversity index, parent and student surveys on culture and diversity, the percent of economically disadvantaged, and gender diversity. The top 10 most diverse schools can be found listed below, along with a list of schools with the best teachers, which Niche determined using reviews from students and parents, plus academic and teacher data from the U.S. Department of Education. Best schools: Staples High School in WestportOverall Niche Grade: A+ New Canaan High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A+ Darien High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A+ Greenwich High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A+ Wilton High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A+ Ridgefield High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A+ Center for Global StudiesOverall Niche Grade: A+ Avon High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A+ Farmington High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A+ Glastonbury High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A+ Fairfield Warde High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A+ Connecticut International Baccalaureate Academy in East HartfordOverall Niche Grade: A+ Weston High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A+ Marine Science Magnet High School of Southeastern Connecticut in LearnOverall Niche Grade: A Conard High School in West HartfordOverall Niche Grade: A Daniel Hand High School in MadisonOverall Niche Grade: A Hall High School in West HartfordOverall Niche Grade: A Simsbury High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A Cheshire High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A Guilford High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A East Lyme High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A Masuk High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A South Windsor High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A Trumbull High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A Fairfield Ludlowe High SchoolOverall Niche Grade: A Most diverse: Manchester High School Hamden High School Stratford High School Stamford High School Connecticut International Buccalaureate Academy in East Hartford Connecticut River Academy at Goodwin University in East Hartford Global Experience Magnet School West Haven High School Robert E. Fitch High School in Groton Derby High School Best teachers: Staples High School in Westport Farmington High School New Canaan High School Greenwich High School E.O. Smith High School Center for Global Studies in Norwalk Wilton High School Avon High School Fairfield Warde High School Shepaug Valley School More information on the rankings can be found on Niche's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Hartselle, Athens ranked in top school districts in Alabama
Jun. 4—Hartselle City Schools and Athens City Schools were both ranked in the top 25 best school districts in Alabama by recently. Hartselle received the No. 10 spot out of 141 school districts. Athens was ranked No. 18. "I would say greatness breeds greatness," said Hartselle City Schools Superintendent Brian Clayton. "It's kind of hard to get away from it. Once you set a certain standard, that's what people do. It's the expectation." HCS has consistently been in the top 10 school districts in the state for multiple years, according to Niche. The website releases school rankings each year. Factors considered for the rankings include state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates and teacher quality. A higher weight is placed on the academics. Teachers, culture and diversity, and self-reported surveys are considered at a lower weight. Then resources and facilities, extracurricular opportunities and sports are weighed even lower. Rankings are based on data from the U.S. Department of Education and parent-student surveys. Hartselle was also ranked the 14th best high school in the state by U.S. News & World Report in 2024. The school district received an overall grade of an A from Niche. Its ratings for sports, extracurricular activities, resources and administration were particularly high. Its lowest performance was in the diversity area. Clayton attributed the high rating largely to great teachers, who work to develop themselves. He said the community has also come to know HCS for having high standards for staff and students. "The worst thing you can do to a kid is have low expectations of them because I always say a kid will rise to whatever the expectation is, or they will fall to whatever the expectation is," Clayton said. One specific area where HCS has focused its growth efforts over the last school year was adhering to the Alabama Numeracy Act, which sought to improve elementary-level math proficiency. The school district brought in math coaches to help improve students' mathematical understanding. Clayton anticipates Holly Sutherland, the new superintendent, who will have taken over the role completely by the end of the month, will continue to aspire to meet the community's expectations of the school. Athens City Schools also received an overall grade of an A. The areas it performed the best in were extracurricular offerings, diversity and college prep. Its lowest performance was in the teachers area. ACS has been on the rise from previous years. A ranking released by Niche in 2023 has it listed as No. 25. "This recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to academic excellence, high-quality teaching, college and career readiness, and community," said Athens City Schools Superintendent Beth Patton. "We take great pride in being a progressive system that empowers our students for future success." Patton said that the school system feels honored by its ranking from Niche. — or 256-340-2437
